Today You Are Five

August 30, 2016

Dear Lucas

Today is the day you turned five years old. I would usually write these on the night before your birthday but today I am writing at the end of the day when you are tucked up, all quiet in bed wearing your new BB-8 pyjamas. I’ve just been back and read the post I wrote you when you turned four and this year could not be more different. Your fourth birthday was just a few days before you started school going into Reception. I was SO nervous for you and it totally dominated my thoughts. I can remember how anxious I felt even now and yet you have taken everything in your stride – you’ve become a part of an amazing school, a wonderful class and it’s changed you into the grown up boy we have today.

This last year has seen some of the biggest changes in your little life and yet I think you have really settled down (the year you were three was a tough one!). I feel like we’ve got a lot right this year. You love your school; we’ve caught up with your classmates a few times over summer and you are so happy around them. You express yourself better than ever, it’s incredible the things you take in that we don’t even realise. Quite often you’ll come out with something and we’ll look at you in such surprise. Now your brothers can talk I love to sit and listen to you chat to each other, of course you have your moments but for the most part you play together so well and the giggles between the three of you are a sight to behold! So often people tell us how good you are or how lucky we are and I always feel so grateful for the family we have.

It’s been wonderful to see more of your personality come out over the last year and you have very definite opinions about what you do and don’t like! You’ve taken a shine to non-fiction books and often for a bedtime story now you’ll choose your Atlas or Dinosaur Question and Answers book. I’m trying to keep the storybooks going and I’m tempting you back with Roald Dahl, you loved George’s Marvellous Medicine. We’ve started having movie nights with just you on certain weekends and now they’ve become a firm tradition in our house. We put your brothers to bed, get out the popcorn and snuggle up on the sofa – it started off with a range of films but now it is just Star Wars so sometimes I leave you and Daddy to it while you discuss droids.

In previous years I’ve taken a bit of a guess at your birthday gifts as you very rarely ask for anything in particular but this year we knew exactly what you wanted and that was anything Lego and anything Star Wars – if the two could be combined even better. We bought you your very first big boy bike at the beginning of the summer and today you had little bits and pieces to unwrap. We’ve had a day full of family, cake and fun but my favourite part was the end of the day. We put your brothers to bed and let you stay up late to build Lego – we ate crisps and fairy cakes and you and Daddy sat on the rug while you played with all your Star Wars Lego. It was a perfect way to end the day and as I put you to bed I asked you what it felt like to be five and you rather sadly said that it felt a little funny and that you were going to miss being four. I said you were still the same Lucas and that will never change – you seemed happy with that as I tucked you in.

You are still one of a kind, so different to other children and yet so happy with your differences you don’t stand apart from them. You are never afraid to be yourself or speak your mind and you are full of a quiet confidence. You are sweet and kind, and you love your family. It’s hard to think that five years ago today I was sat in a hospital with a tiny baby boy in my arms, with no idea of the amazing little person he would become. Right before my eyes you have turned into the most wonderful little boy and you always make me proud, I am always happy to be able to say I’m your Mother. I hope this next year is even better than the last, I know you are capable of surprising us at every turn!

Aww that is such a beautiful post Hayley. I love the idea of movie night and find it so funny that you leave them to it 😉 happy birthday little man. We were also surprised at how much school changes them.